Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol Both On Track To Return By End Of July
Los Angeles Dodgers relievers Joe Kelly (shoulder) and Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) are both on track to return by the end of July, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Kelly is expected to return after the All-Star break, and Graterol will likely return closer to the end of the month. Kelly has missed all of June and most of May with a right posterior shoulder strain, while Graterol has not made an appearance in the 2024 season while dealing with right-shoulder inflammation. Both will be welcome additions to a Dodgers bullpen that already holds the fourth-best bullpen ERA in the league at 3.33 coming into Friday. Kelly has been subpar in 2024 with a 4.73 ERA but would likely be able to eat up the middle innings of games. Graterol will greatly help the back end of the Dodgers bullpen when he returns after posting a sub-1.00 WHIP in back-to-back seasons. Fantasy managers should look to prioritize adding Graterol to their lineups.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Joe Kelly (shoulder) will begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with an appearance for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. It's good news that Kelly has finally started a rehab assignment, but manager Dave Roberts said over the weekend that Kelly was unlikely to return to the big-league bullpen before the All-Star break in mid-July. It makes sense with the 36-year-old veteran reliever having been out with a right-shoulder strain for almost two full months. At best, Kelly will be an option for fantasy managers in deep holds leagues. He only has seven career saves in 13 major-league seasons and had a bloated 4.73 ERA (2.64 FIP) and 1.35 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and five walks for the Dodgers in 13 1/3 innings out of the bullpen before injuring his right shoulder.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly (shoulder) won't be ready to return before the All-Star break, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The right-hander has been on the injured list since early May due to a shoulder issue. The 36-year-old will require a rehab assignment before returning. Once he returns, Kelly figures to pitch in high-leverage situations, but won't have much fantasy value because he's not the closer.
As of Friday, Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) was throwing out from 90 feet, but manager Dave Roberts said that Kelly was on a "slow program" and a return from the injured list was not imminent. Kelly was unexpectedly placed on the 15-day injured list before the May 6 game against the Miami Marlins. The 35-year-old veteran will need to start throwing off a mound again first before eventually going on a short minor-league rehab assignment. Even though Kelly's return has been slowed, as long as he doesn't suffer a setback, he should be able to return before the start of July. Kelly is really only fantasy relevant in deep holds leagues. So far in 2024, he's recorded a 4.73 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with five walks and 14 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings out of LA's bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) started a throwing program on Monday. Kelly has resumed throwing after being put on the 15-day injured list on May 6 with a right-shoulder strain. Even though the 35-year-old veteran will likely require a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Dodgers' bullpen, it should be a short one, barring a setback with his shoulder. Kelly isn't really a candidate for saves in LA -- he has just seven in his 13-year MLB career -- but he's a valuable right-handed setup man in the Dodgers' bullpen when he's healthy and could have some appeal in deep holds leagues. Before his shoulder injury, Kelly had allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 13 hits while walking five and striking out 14 in 13 1/3 relief innings.
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-hander Joe Kelly (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a "right posterior shoulder strain." The move cleared a spot for right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) to be activated from the IL. Kelly doesn't think the injury will keep him out for long, but that doesn't mean he will be ready to return once his stay on the 15-day IL is up. The 35-year-old reliever also dealt with a groin injury recently. The Dodgers' bullpen has taken a hit in recent days with both Kelly and closer Evan Phillips (hamstring) going on the shelf. With Phillips out, expect the Dodgers to move to a closer-by-committee, with players such as Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia being candidates for save opportunities. Kelly has a 4.73 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with five walks and 14 K's in 13 1/3 relief innings so far in 2024.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly could be asked to pitch in a higher leverage role for a few weeks. The organization recently placed closer Evan Phillips (hamstring) on the injured list. It sounds like the timetable for Phillips is around two weeks, so the Dodgers will need someone to step up for a few weeks. Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen figure to be the primary options, but Kelly should be in the mix too. Fantasy managers might want to wait and see how the Dodgers play this situation before grabbing one of these relievers.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that relief pitcher Joe Kelly (groin) tweaked his right groin fielding a grounder in Tuesday night's loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he stayed in to finish the innings. The Dodgers plan to see how Kelly is feeling on Wednesday, but he likely wasn't going to be available anyway. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander picked up his seventh hold of the year on Tuesday by tossing a clean inning while giving up one hit and striking out one. Kelly is only valuable in deep holds leagues and isn't in the closing picture in LA. In his 13 appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen so far this year, he's sporting a 5.25 ERA (2.75 FIP), 1.50 WHIP, five walks and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Free-agent reliever Joe Kelly is close to signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya and FanSided's Robert Murray. The hard-throwing veteran posted a 4.12 ERA, 1.195 WHIP, and 60:18 K/BB ratio over 39 1/3 innings between the White Sox and the Dodgers last season. Kelly was traded to Los Angeles at last season's deadline but had his $9.5 million team option declined at the end of the year. The Dodgers will likely bring him back for less money now.
The Los Angeles Dodgers activated relief pitcher Joe Kelly (forearm) from the injured list on Wednesday and optioned rookie right-hander Kyle Hurt back to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move. Hurt, the team's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, looked good in his major-league debut out of the bullpen on Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres, tossing two scoreless and hitless innings while striking out three. The 35-year-old Kelly is returning after missing a month with right-forearm inflammation. He returned to the Dodgers in a trade with the Chicago White Sox and should hold down a late-inning role in LA's bullpen for the rest of the season and playoffs. In 32 2/3 total innings in 2023, Kelly has a 4.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, one save and 48 K's in 35 relief appearances.
